Be a CASA volunteer and help kids

Published: Saturday, April 5, 2014 1:15 a.m. CST

By Darin DeHaan
Oregon

What is a volunteer? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines volunteer as a person who does work without getting paid to do it. Volunteer is a noun, but I contend that volunteer is actually a verb. A word that expresses an action, an occurrence, or a state of being.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is many things; a mentor, a vision of hope for the hopeless, a caring and kind person in a world of chaos and confusion.

CASA volunteers do work without getting paid, but that does not describe the actions they take on behalf of the abused and neglected children in our communities.

To me, a CASA volunteer is a hero who gives a voice to the voiceless children in the court system. Judges appoint CASA volunteers to speak for the best interest of children removed from their homes as a result of abuse and neglect.

CASA volunteers provide judges with essential insights into critical information about children in the foster care system, allowing judges to make more informed decisions about the future for those children.

Each year, CASA volunteers help thousands of abused and neglected children find safe and permanent homes. Take that step, take action, be a voice, and find out how you can volunteer for CASA. Visit their website, www.casaleecarroll.com, and see how you can help.

Note to readers: Darin DeHaan, vice president of CASA, serves on the 15th Judicial Circuit board of directors.